Sectional ladders



Aug. 18, 1959 c. E. LEAvlTT ETAL SECTIONAL -LADDERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 28, 1957 Cyr/'l E. Leak/'tf Char/es E. While/wks! INVENToRs y Aug. 18, 1959 c. E. LEAVITT ETAL 2,900,041

SECTIONAL LADDERS Filed June 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 3

A INVENToRs` 'BY WWW Www States Patint" 2,900,041 sEcnoNAL LADDnRs cyrii E. Leavitt and Charles E. Whitehurst, Marianna, Fla.

Our invention relates to improvements in sectional ladders of the type adapted for use either as a straight lad-y y der or a step ladder. y

The primary object of our invention is to provide a simply constructed inexpensive sectional ladder which may be easily and quicklylengthened or shortened by telescopically connecting the desired number of sections together to form a straight ladder of desired length, together with means for connecting two of the sections together to form a step ladder to, which other sections may be added to increase the height thereof if desired.

Another object is to provide in conjunction with the above, practical, quick-acting, snap action means for locking the sections telescopically connected in straight ladder form and which is easy to release and requires no tools to release the same.

Still another object is to provide means for telescopically connecting the ladder sections together which will not stick or freeze and prevent the sections from being disconnected.

Yet another object is to provide a ladder with strong but very lightweight side members and cross members, or rounds, together with means for rigidly connecting the cross members or rounds, to the side members without using any separate connecting parts.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequen-tly apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of our improved ladder with two sections connected together to form a straight ladder;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line -2-2 of Figure l and partly broken away;

Figure 3 is a view in cross section off the same taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section ltaken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure S is an enlarged fragmentary view in longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded View in perspective illustrating in detail the means for telescopically connecting the ladder sections together and details of the locking means;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, partly in section, of one of the cross members or rounds before it is connected to the side members; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view on a smaller scale of means for'connecting two of the ladder sections together to form a step ladder.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, and first to Figures l to 7, according to our invention, a sectional ladder designated generally by the numeral 1 is provided comprising a plurality of ladder sections which may be connected together to form a straight ladder including, as shown for illustration purposes, a pair of upper and lower like ladder sections 3, 5. l

Each ladder sectionI 3, 5 comprises a pair of tubular side members 7 of aluminum, or similar light. strong metal, and transverse members, or rounds. 8, cross connecting the side members 7 and of the same material, preferably as said side members 7. The `transverse members 8 are generally rectangular and'of arcuate upwardly vbowed cross rsection for width and, strength and formed out of jsheet metal, and theside members7 are of 11iangular crossY section for strengthand -to providev at confronting inner sides, or facesf 10, in each pairfortting flush against the ends ofthe. transverse members 8.

Themeans for telescopically connecting the ladder sections 3, 5 comprises reduced upper end portions 12 `on the side members 7 of the sections 3, 5 for slidably fitting in the lower end portions ofthe side members of an upper section, such as section 3.`

The transverse members .8V are connected to nthe side members 7 by vmeans *of` rectangular bendable end tabs 14 on said members Spinserted through arcuately arranged pairs of rectangular openings 16 in the inner sides, of faces 10, of said members 7 and bent downwardly inside the side members 7 ilat against said inner sides or faces 10, all as best shown in Figures 2 to 5.

The tabs 14 on the lowermost transverse member 8 of the upper ladder section 3 form part of stop means establishing the telescopically connected position of the ladder sections 3, 5. The remainder of the stop means comprises terminal notches 18- in the inner sides 10 of the reduced end portions 12 of the lower section seating the tabs 14 on said lowermost member 8, and notches 26 at the lower ends of the upper section 3 in its sides 10 tting over the uppermost transverse member 8 of the lower section 5.

The locking means comprises a pair of leaf springs 22 extending longitudinally along the inner sides of faces 10 of the upper section 3 at its lower end and having terminal lugs 4 at one end welded as at 25, to said sides and spacing said springs from said sides. A pair of locking pins 26 on the other ends of the springs 22 are urged thereby through holes 28 in the inner sides of faces 10 of the upper section 3 to snap into a pair of longitudinal slots 30 in the inner sides, or faces 10 and reduced upper end portions 12 of the lower section 5. A pair of triangular lugs 32 are provided on the inner sides of faces 10 of the upper section 3 intermediate the ends of the springs 22 and against which said springs may be manually pressed to ex the same in a direction to withdraw the locking pins 26 from the slots 30, whereby to unlock the ladder sections 3, 5.

vAs previously noted, the sections 3, 5 are alike and in this connection each section 3, 5 is provided in its reduced end portions 12 with the previously described notch 18 and slots 30 and at its lower end portions with the previously described locking means for coaction with the slots 30, and each section is provided at its lower end portion with the described springs 22, lugs 24, 32, locking pins 26 and holes 28, so that the sections 3, 5 are interchangeable and other like ladder sections may be attached thereto to provide a straight ladder of any desired length.

Referring now fto Figure 8, according to our invention, means is provided for securing together a pair of the improved ladder sections, for instance the sections 3, 5 to form a step ladder. This means comprises a rectangular crown panel 34 having front and rear pairs of depending, tubular corner sockets 36, 38 of triangular cross section fitting downwardly over the upper reduced end portions 12 of the side members 7 of the pair of sections 3, 5 when said sections are detached from each other, the

Patented Aug. 18, 1959 ifront pair of sockets '36 'inclining downwardly and forlwardly of the panel '34andtherear pair of sockets 38 inclining downwardly and rearwardly from said panel, so `that the sections 3, 4 are'connected together in downwardlydivergingrelation l1`ke"tl1'e usual step ladder'.

v The use f and operation of 'ourf invention 'will-j be-re'adily :understood from the preceding'description ofpar'tsfand 'operation thereof, and "further description is therefore vdeemed to be unnecessary.

Yequivalents 'may be 'resorted -to,-fa11ing within the scope of the invei'ntionas claimed.

What is claimed asnew' is as follows:

A'ladder coa'nprising'apair'ofY ladder sections'each embodyinga pair oft'ubular side members, and transverse members connecting the sidelmembers, the side members of each pairhavingends telescopically slidable together to connect said sections together, one rtransverse member of one section having end tabs inserted through slots in the side members of said one section and seating against the ends of the side members of the other section to limit slidable telescoping movement of said ends together, a-pair of longitudinallyextending leafsprings on said ends of one pair of side members fixed at one end thereto and spaced therefrom and having locking pins on the other ends thereof snapped through openings in said ends of the side members in the limit of telescopic movement thereof, and a pair of triangular lugs on said ends of said one pajr `of'sidemembers intermediate the ends of and behind said springs andagainst which said springs are flexible toward said Ven'dswof said one pair of side members to withdraw said'pinsfrom said openings.

References Citedin the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 112,697 "llis Mar. 14, 1871 376,794 Barns Ian. 24, 1888 472,406 Smith Apr. 5, 1892 724,953 x Schaller Apr; 7, v1903 736,495 Cloud f. 2 AAugj18,l 1903 1,104,236 vWright v July 21,1914 1,422,654 Walker 1 v `July 11, 1922 r1,503,880 Broman V Aug. 5,V 1924 A'FOREIGN JPATENTS l690,550 Germany Apr. :27, '1940 

